Will of Rev. Richard Mather, of Dorchester, Mass. 1664

Gc

929.2
M42mah
1727395

Q£|sjHAl^-tiSY ^OLLCCTTON

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 01328 8680

WILL OF J

:REY, iilCHARDMATJLii^ii,

OV DOKCIIESTEK, MASS.

1 (i 0 4.

\ f

1727395

WILL OF REV. RICHAPvD MATHER.

rTrm^ornjOfl from the Kocor.l, in SufFolk VvuhatQ Office, VoL vi., hy Tv^illiam B. Trask,
and communicated to the N. E. Hist. & Gcu. Rcgistei- tor July, ISGo.J

[Iv the Library of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Ilistorical Soci-
: cty is an intercstino; pamphlet, in small quarto form, pp. 38, bearing
; the following title T—'-' The ] Life and Death ] of That Reverend Man
^ of God, I ^h\ RicuKP.T) Mather, \ Teacher of the Church ] in | Dor-
; CHESTER 1 in I New ExcLAyD. ] Psal. 112.6. The Righteous shall
; be had in everlasting remem ]. brance. Ileb. 13 . 1. Remember them
:, who have spoken to you the Word ] of God. Rev. 14 . 13. Blessed are
the dead which die in the Lord : they rest from their labours, and their
works follow them. | Ministri vita censura k cynosura. | Cambridge :
I Printed bv S. G. and M. J., 16V0." | This work was reprinted by
Mr. David ""Clapp, in 1850, in a small volume of lOS pages, which
contained, also, " The Journal of Richard Mather," copied from the
original MSS., which has been preserved nearly 231 years. The
n.anuscript is in possession of the Society, and the volume refer-
red to was published with :^reface and Appendix as Number 3 of their
" Collections."

The edition of 1610 was sent fjrth under the sanction of the Rev.
Increase Mather, and is included in the list of his works by Cotton
.Mather, in his " Ecmarkables," dedicated " To the Church and In-
habitants of Dorchester in N. E. Grace unto you from God by Jesus
Christ. Beloved in the Lord Jesus. You have here jvesenied to your
^:'ric, and for your Imitation in the Lord, the Life of him that icas to
^'jrny of you a Spiritual (as to me a Natural) Father : Inasmuch as the
nrcaf.cst part of his time in the llinist/y he v:as a Labourer in the Lord's
JIari-est amongst you ; Also icilh you did he finish his course. There
is therefore special reason v:hy what is here done should be directed to
<rnirsei>:es. The Composer of this ensuing Relation is not idlling that
I h.i'< 2\ame should be published. But it is done by one who hath had the
^•i''u:ing of nvi Father's Manuscripts ; from vlience, as icell as from per-
gonal and intimate Acquaintance of maynj years continuance, and other

I

2

Will of Rev. Bkhard Mather.

•wayes, he hath been truhj furnished wi'h the knoidedge of ichat is here
reporled. And indeed the greatest pari of the Story is knoivn unto
sundrjf amongst yourselves.

" What rcmaineth then, Brethren and Beloved in the Lord, hid that ive
shoidd be vdndfuU of ichat is by the Lord required, v:hen the Scripture
saifh, Kemcmbcr tlicni that have taught (and not onely them, that do
ieach) the Word of God, Avhosc faith follow, considering^ the end of
their conversation. What that Doctrine of Faith is, ivhich your blessed
TeacJier did from the Lord instruct yon in, I need not say, onely lie-
memhcr it. liemember his Farewell Exhortation,* ichich is now in
many of your Houses, and Oh that it loere in alt your hearts. And
as for his Conversation, your selves know that God made him 'E::s.cm-
ytlarily Faithfull, Zealous, Patient, Harable, Holy: Folloiu him as he
follov:ed Christ. So lUcewise pray that he may do v:ho is

Yours ill the Lord alwayes,

Boston, Septernh. 6, Increase Mather.''

N. E. 16T0.

On page 34 of the book it says : — " It hath been the manner of
some, in writing- Lives to insert the Wills,-\ of those whose Lives and
Heath they have described. The last last Will and Testament of him,
whose liife and Death hath thus been related, breathing forth a most
humble, holy, and gracious Spirit, we shall subjoyn the Preface and
Conclusion of it." The portion which relates to " the disposal of his
Temporal Estate [about two thirds of the whole will], being of ])ri-
vate Concernment, we shall not hero trouble the World thcrcwitii.
But after the disposal of that, he concludcth with a most Solemn
Charge to his Children, with the reiiear»all Avhereof we shall finish."
So says the book.

We have therefore taken pains to tr;akc an entire copy of the Will
as recorded in the Suflblk Probate OPJcc, and jiresent it now, probably
for the first time, as a whole, in print. There are a few slight varia-
tions in the book from the record, the most important of which will
he indicated in the accompanying foot notes.

We have endeavored to ascertain — -thus far without success —
whether the origiiial will is in existence. We do not find it on file at
the Suflblk Probate Office, and have been informed by the gentlemanly
librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, Mass.^,

S. F. Ilaven, Esq., that it
that veteran institution.]

not among the " Mather Papers," in

• Cotton Mather, in tlic Maqnalia, pivcs the Life of his £a-an*ltatlier (Rev. Richaiv!:,
in which he state-; — "Some yeai-s lieforc his dcatli [havini; pcnl over unto hi.s old (loJc iii
Lancajliire, a lii;e testimouV of his concenmu nt tor tlieni] he cf)ni])Osed and piiliU.~ho<',
'A Farcicel Exhortation to' the Church and I'lople of Durrh'-Hlcr,' consistinir of screi:
directioiti-, whertiu hi- lloilc taii^ht read t!ic dosi^rn and "spirit of liis whole niiuistiy aii'On.'
them ; on a certain Lord's day lie did, by the hands of his deacons, pat these little ln-olvS
into the han<ls of his eon,?reu''ation, that >o \\'henever he slionld hy ilcath take his farc-c^J
of them, they nii;,'ht .-till renieniber how they had lieeii e.xhorted."

Ilev. Dr. HaiTL-, in theappen<hx to his Mrmorinls of the First Ch'/rch in Dnrchi'.^f'jr,
delivered in r\vo di.-eotnses, at the end of the seeontl eenttir}-, July \, 1S;''>, etuinierates liie
publications of Mr. Kirliard Mather, closing with the " Farewell Exliortation." He -ays .—
This last, he distributed in all the families;" and yet a, copy is not now toj>c found. '^^ '
have reeoiitly learned of the exi5t»nee of a copy "in the possession of Rev. A. li. Quint, <m
New Redtbnl, Mas.s. It will, proliably, be reprsr.ted.

t Ou tlio mariria— " So Beza in the Life of Calvin. Bannosiui iu the Life of Ramus, &'. •"

jnil of Rev. Richard Mather. 3

The last Will and Testament of EicLard Mather, Minister of the
Word of God, at Dorchester, in XewEng-land, AVritten with his Ownc

liands the IG*" day of the S'^ month 1661: 1, Richard Mathci,

Considering- the Certanty of death and the Vnccrtanty of the time there-
of, and withall knowing^'^it to bee the \vi]l of God that man should see*
his house in Order before hee depart this life, doe make this my last
will and Testament, in manner following.— First of all, I xVcknow-
ledge the rich and Wondcrfull Grace and mercy of Almighty God
whose hands haue made mee and fashioned mec, and who took mee
out of my mothers womb, that hauing made mee a' man that might
haue made mee a beast, or other Creature, or some deformed mon-
ster,! hee hath also by his good Prcuidence preserued tlie Comfort
and being^ of my life all the dayes of my Pilgrimage vntil now, Eucn
for the space, almost, § of these sixty and Fine yeares, during which
time hee hath not sufiered me to want Either food or Rayment or the
Seruice of anv Creature that hath benn reqiiisit for my Comfortable
subsisting in this World, wliich I Acknowledge to bee the bounteous
guift of him who is the Lord of all Creatures, and the high possessor
of Heaucn and Earth. Next of all, and m.ore Especially, I am bound
to Giue praise and thanksj! to him while I haue my being that I, being
a child of wrath, by nature, as well as others, and being borne in a
place of much Prophanes and Popery, hee hath of his abundant Grace,
nouchsafed to draw mee out of that wofull Estate of sinn and igno-
rance wherein I lay, and to make himsclfe and his Christ knownc vnto
mee by the Gospell, of which Grace I was most vnworthy, and in his
great Patience and mercy to bear with my manifold and great offences,
both before and since that time of his gracious calling of mec, though
for my vnworthy walking, in many particulars, I might justly haue
benn forener rejected of him. Yea and such hath benn his Rich
grace, that hee hath uouchsafed to put mee, an vnworthy Creature,
into the ministry of the Gospell of his Sonn, that I should not only
know and pvofes the same, which is an vnspeakable mercy, but bee
also a Preacher of it vnto others, in winch imployment, if any thing
haue benn done that haue benn pleasing to him, or any way benniti-
ciall to anv Child of his, it hath not benn I that haue done the same,
but the Grace of God which hath benn with mee ; for I must needs
Acknowledge, to the praise of his Patience and Grace, that in my
poore ministration for these two and Forty yeares and vpwards, I
haue benn much defectiue in Wisdorac and watchfulnes Ouer the
Peoples Soules, in purity, in Faithfulnes, in vprightnes, meeknes.
Humility and zeale : and because of these, and many other my defects
and offences against the Lord, I stand ilus day in much need of mercy
and forgiucnes, through his Clirist, and haue noe Cause to looke for
any Ac'ceptance with him,*^ in this or in another World, for any
Righteousnes of my Owiie, Either as touching my ministry or other-
wise, but disclayming all thought of th;it kind, my only trust and
Uope is to bee accepted of him, and when this life shall bee at an

• In the book, set.

f " " or some deformed monster, omitted.

+ " «< Comfort and being, tnilisposcd.

J " " a/most, oiuittoJ.

Il " " praise niul thanks, tnnjposcd.

"t " " teiih him, omitted.

* lu the liook, and.
+ " " t/,,ji,_

t " " of lIous.\ Lands, goods and Chnltlcs, omitted.

0 " habitable.

8 TLc printed part, iu book, first portion, entL> here.

I

4 ?Fi/Z o/" Rev. Richard Mather.

End, to bee saued iu his Heauenly Kingdon}c mccrl}' by his free g'race
and the Obedience and precious passion and intcrscssion of his dearc
Sonn. And Concerning death, as I doe belieue that it is appointed
for all men once to dye, soe, because I see a g'reat deale of vnprolit- Ti
ableues in my owne life, and because God hath also let mee see such r^
xnmity and Emtines Eaen in the best of those Comforts -which this
life canu aford, that I tliink I may truly say, that ] haue scene an End
of all perfection, therefore, if it Avero the will of God, I should bcf
glad to be remoned hence, where the best that is to bee had doth
yeald soe little Sattisfaction to my Soule, and to bee brought in to his 'J
presence in Glory, that there I might find (for' there I know it is to |
bee had) that Sattisfying of* all suflicient Contentment in him, whicli
vnder the Sunne is not to bee Enjoyed. In the meaue time I desire
to stay the Lord's leasure, but t]ieu,f 0 Lord, how long. Now Con
cerniug my outward Estate of Ilousf, Lauds, goods and Chatties.:;
sith the Earth is the Lords and the fulnes thereof, the Inhabitable.:;
world and all that is therein, to him tberefore bclongeth the Praise oi'
all that I possess in this kind ; and for the Portion thereof which he-
hath giucn mee, it is my mind and will, if soe it please his highne-.
that after my decease the same may bee disposed of as followeth.jj

First of all, whereas vpon my marriage with my deare wife, Sarai:
Mather, I receiued of her in Ilousc-hold Stuflc the uallue of Eift\
pounds and Engaged my selfe to Icaao to her at my decease the dubbl.'
thereof, that is 100"", It is now ray mind and will that the said En-
gagement bee truly performed and fulfilled, and therefore I hereby
giue and Appoint to bee paid vnto her, after my decease, the said sum , ^
of one Hundred Pounds, the one halfe of it in such Household Stufic '.u
as I receiued with her or shall leaue hi my House, and the other Fifty \h
pounds in such good pay as may bee lo her just Sattisfaction and Con- \^
sent, Either in Houshold stulVe, Corne, Cattle or otherwise, in all or \^
any of these. Item, I Giue to her daughter, Mary Cotton, and to her '^
Grand-daughter, Elizabeth Day, to esich of them, twenty shillings, as ^^
a Testimony of my Acknovvdedgment of their obseruance and dutiful '"^
Respect towards mee whilst they lined in my iamily. Item, I Giuo B
to the Children of my sister, Ellin Worseley, the sume of Fine pounds, il
to bee Equally deuided Amongst them, the said Legacy and gift of ||
Fiue pounds to bee paid within the space of Three yeares next after %
my decease. Item, of my Eookcs, I giuo M^ Perkins workes, in three H
Vollumes, to my buluued Sonn, Timotliy ]\[ather. And to his wife, |
ray deare daughter, Elizabeth Mather, that Treatise of M^ Scudder %
Concerning a Christians daly walke. Also, I Giue vnto Samuel ]\Ia- %
ther, the Eldest sonn of my son Timothy, Fiue pounds, and to all his J
other Children which shall bee liuiiiLr at my decease, to Each of them, %
Forty shillings. As for all the rest of my Bookes not formerly Ex-
pressed, mentioned, together with all my written Papers and mani-
scripts whatsoeuer, whether in my Desk or without it, in my Stud-
dy or Else where. Except oidy sucii writting as doe Concerne mv
Lands or other Outward Estate, All these,'" with the deskes and

.•«IU!

JFill of Ra'. Richard Mather. 5

Tables iu my studdy and the Tnmck tliat is there, Also, I Giue to
inv Beloiicd Sonns Sarauell, Nathaniell, Eliazer and Increase Matlicr,
to bee distributed and diiiided xVmonprst them, in manner following,
that is to say, that Natliauicll, Eliazcr and Increase, shall Each of
them banc one fifth part thereof, and t?ie other two fifth parts to bee
to my sonn Samuell ]Mothor. And whereas, I Giue vnto my sonns
Samuell, Nathaniell, Eliazer and IncreaS'enoo further Portion out of my
Outward Estate, but only what is mentioned, I doe it only Con(^eiuing
that the Cost and Charg-e.s I banc bestowed on them, in their Educa-
tion, together with what I hcrol'y now giue them, may as well, if not
better. Enable and fitt them, through tlic blessing of God, to a Com-
fortable Way of sub'sisting and seruing- the Lord, as if they had had
greater Portions left them at my decease and had had their Education
iu some other Way, that had bcnn less chargable and Costly,
in which regard, what I now giue thein and baue formerly layd out
'fur them may bee accounted as Amounting to the full of their filliall
Portions. And Concerning my sonn Timothy, in as much as hee hath
[not] had soe much Cost bestowed vpon him in his Education as his
brethren haue had, therefore I thinck ii meete I should otherwise be-
stow on him and his a greater Portion of my Outward Estate, and
therefore, as I haue some yeares since giuen and assured to him in
Land, meadow, barne and other buildang in Cowes, Oxen, bedding'.
Household Stulle and otherwise a Considerable Portion, not much
less than two Hundred pounds in uallue, as I suppose^ if not more,
soe vpon Condition that hee, the said TimotJiy, shall f;\ithfuliy dis-
charge and pay the seuerall legacies ami guifts aboue mentioned, with
what-euer I shall mention, hereafter, hj my last will or otherwise,
vpon these Conditions, I giue to him,tfce said Timothy, all my House,
barne, buildings and Lands in Dorchester, whatsoeuer or wlieresoeuer
the same bee, whether in the home Lotts, or in the neck of Land,
or in the great Lotts, or in the Commons, or Cowe walke, or
wheresoeuer, to bee to the vse of bim, the said Timothy, and his
assignes, during the time and space of his naturall life, in as full and
Ample manner as I, myselfe, or my assignes, haue had and Enjoyed,
or doe, might, and ought to Enjoy the same ; and after the decease
of him, the said Timothy, I giue the reuersion and inheritance of all
the said Lands and otlier before receiaed premisses, vnto Samuell
Mather, sonn to him the said Timothy, and to the heires of him, the
said Samuell, and to the rest of the Children of him, the said Timothy,
and to their heires, a dulible portion always rescrued to the Eldest
Sonn of him, the said Timothy and the Portion of his wife, iu Case
slice bee left a widdow, alwayes Excepted. And as I hereby giue the
reuersion and inheritance of such Lands as are now in my possession,
or in the possession of my assignes, "\iito the Children of my said sonn
Timothy and to their heires, in like sort I giue vnto them the reuer-
sion and inheritance of all such Lands, whatsoeuer, as 1 haue latly
giuen and assured to him, the said TiisKithy, during tlie tcarme of his
naturall life, by a writting vndor my hand, bearing date, the -4"' day of
the ir-'' month, in the yeare 1G55 ; likewise, vpon tlie Condition or
Conditions afore mentioned, I doe hereby giue to him, the said Timo-
thy Mather, all tlie rest and remainder of my Estate in mouable Goods
whatsoeuer, whether it bee seruants, debts owing vnto mee, brass,
pewter, Table stooles, bedding, liuuens or other household stuflc, or

6 . Will of Rev. Richard Mather.

Cattle, as Cowcs, Oxen, Horses, mares or Tvhateucr, all these, I
Giue to him, the said Timothy, vpoii the Conditions before Expressed,
to bee his owne proper goods in as full and Ample manner as 1 doe
now Enjoy the same, or of rii^-ht ou.G:ht or might soe doc ; but all and
Euery guift or guifts, legacy or Icjracies, whatsoeuer, which 1 hereby
giue or shall liereaftcr giue or pronmisc to giue, or to bee giuen to any
Person or Persons, whatsoeucr, wjietlier writting vnder my hand, or
before two suflicicnt wittnesses and all, and all Conenants and pro-
mises whereto I shall Engage my selfe, to any Person or Persons
whatsoeuer or have done heretofore. All these same, I doe Appoint
to bee taken as part of my last will and Testament, and to bee ac-
cordingly performed and fulfilled as well as if they had benu, and as
what is hereby by mee in perticular Expressed and set downe. Pro-
uided, that all what is heere said shall not Extend to any such per-
ticular thing or things as shall by ince bee reuoked, disanulled or
repealed before my decease. And,* Concerning my sonn Timothy,
with all the rest of my beloucd sonns, As I hope God hath already
made them pertakers, at least sundry of them, of his sauing Grace,
in Christ, for which I and they hauc Cause to bee Endlcsly thanckfull,
soe I thinck it not amiss, for the furtherance of their spirit uall good,
to lay vpon them this serious and sollemne charge of a dying Father,
that none of them presume, after my decease, to walke in any way of
sinn or wickcdnes, in one kind or in an other, or in a Carless neglect
of God or of the things of God and of theirc owne saluationby Christ,
for if they shall soe doe (which God forbid) then in such Case I
hereby testify unto them, that thctr Lather -which begat them, and %
their mother v^-hich bare them, with all the Prayers they haue made, li
and teares they haue cryedf for them, their Example, their Admoui- S^
tions and Exortations they haue Administred vnto them, together 5.|
with this my last will and sollemne cliargc, all these will rise vp against |l
them as soe many testimonies lor tlieir Condemnation at the last day ; i^
but I hauc better hopes of them, and doe hereby declare vnto them, l^
that if they shall seriously repent of their sins, belieuo in the Lord ^j
Jesus and by his grace walke in all the wayes of God and as becom- ^|
meth the Gospell of Clirist, as this ivill bee to the Honnor and glory ^f.
of him that made tliem, and soe will redounc to their vnspeakable ;^s
Comfort and bennifit in this and in another world. And their Father \i
that now speakes vnto them, with their dearc mother, now with God, i|
shall Exceedingly rejoycc in the day of Christ, when we shall receiue '.'■]
our children into those Eucrlasting habitations and shall soe oursclues ; j
not alone, but those Also that haue proceeded and come fourth out of \i
our owne bowells, to haue there part and Portion in that Eternall ^l
Glory. In desire and hope that it mnj bee soe, I Commend them all to |
the Lord of Heaucns blessing. And let the blessing of God in Jesus
Christ bee puwred out and remaine vpon them all foreuermore, Amen.|
Finally, of this my last v,-iU and Testament, 1 nominate and Appoint
my beloued sonns, Timothy Mather, and his Brother, Eliazer, my true
and Lawfull Execute", to Execute the same Faithfully and truly, as I
haue therein Appointed. And 1 i'ltreate niy beloued Freinds and

— — — — ^ t,;;

• The second extract ia tlie Iwok begins here. ff\

+ \n tiook, s/ifil.

X Here cml tLc extracti iu tLc Memoir.

iVill of Rev. Richard Mather, 7

Brethren in the Lord, M'. Henry Wiiuington, Deacon Edward Clap,
Leift. Rog-er Clape, and Ensig-uellopestill Foster, to aflbard tlieir helpo
and furtherance as Oucrseers, by their besl aduice and Care to further
the performance and fulljlling' of what I hauc herein Exj)ressed and
Appointed. And that this is my last irill and Testament let the sub-
scription of my name Testify, which 1 liauc hereunto subscribed,
written with my owue hand in manner following, viz*.

llicHARD Mather,
The Testament afore mentioned, in Testimony

that this was his last will and Testament,

did subscribe liis name in p^sence of vs, viz'.

\ Roger Clap, >« ^-4*^.-100Cr

r Hopestill Foster, 1727395

Richard Withington,

William Pond.

For Explanation of the mind and will of moc, Richard Mather, in
my Testament bearing date the IG'^ day of the S"' month 1G61, and for
some addition thereto, I doe hereby declare that it is my mind and
will, that my bcloued wife, Sarah Mather, shall haue free liberty to
dwell and inhabit, where shoe now dotL, in my House, in Dorchester,
for the space of 3 or fowrc months after my decease, and during that
time shall haue the free vse of that House, which shee now hath,
with tl»e Garden and Orchard thereto adjoyning. Item, it is my mind
and will, that Samuell Mather, sonn to my sonn, Timothy, shall haue
Compctant naaintenace aforeded to him out of my Estate, in house and
Lands, in Dorchester, for his liuing in the way of learning and studdy,
as a scholler, vntill such time hee may bee fitt, by Gods blessing on
his studdies, to take the degree of master of Arts, hoc Carrying hirn-
selfo, in the mcanc time, as"l hope he will, in duty and Obedience to
his Parents and other superiors, and in a Carefull Endeauon"' to fearc
the Lord and walke in his Ways, for the good of his soule ; and being
for that end dilligent in reading the holy Scriptures and meditating,
they being able to make wise vnto saluation, through the Faith which
is in Christ Jesus. Item, I Giue vnto this Church and People of
Dorchester and Deacons, for their vse, the small mite of the yearly
sume of 20.S., to bee paid yearly, out of my house and Lands- in Dor-
chester, for and towards the maintenance of the ministry in this Con-
gregation, but if once my sonn, Timothy, or his assignes, shall pay
for the vse afore mentioned, the sume of Piuc pounds together, then and
in such Case, it is my mind and will, tbat the ycarely payment of the
said 20s. shall sease, and discontinue, o.n.d be paid noe longer. And
the said Fine pounds being paid to the Deacons, it is my desire, that
the same may by them bee bestowed, layd out and disposed of, in
sume such way as in their wisdome and discretion may bee most
auala])lo for the End and vse aforementioned, viz'., for sum helpe to-
wards tlie yearly maintenance of the ministry in this place, in sume
20.S. yearly, vntill the said o"', bee paid, and afterwards, the yearely
incomb and bennitit of the said 5"^. or of what it shall bee paid out
vpon. Item, it is my mind and will that my sonn. Increase Mather,
who is now in this Country, and 1 hope may continue and abide there-
in till after my decease, may boo added to his brothers Timothy and
Eliazer, as joynt Executo'', 'with them, of this my last will and Testa-

8

JVill of Rev. Ricliard Mather.

ment, "who I doc hereby nominate and Appoint for that purpose.
Lastly, that this Explanation or addition, licrc written, in part of my
last will and Te.stamont, and as such to bee according-ly rccciued and
obserued, let the subscri{)tion of my name Testify, which 1 have here-
unto adjoyned, written with my owno band, the 21"' day of the 7'''
month, in the yeare 1604. Richard Mathek.

The testator afore mentioned did hereunto sub-
scnbe his name in presence of vs, vizt.

Roger Clap, Hopcstill Foster, William Sumner.

Att a meeting' of the magestrates and
Recorder in Buston, 24"^ May, 1C69, Cap-
taino Roger Clap, Capt. ITopestill Foster
and "W^'illiam I'ond deposed, Respectiuely,
Each for themselves, that hauing sub-
scribed their names, Capt : Clap and Captaiue Foster to both parts,
and the said Pond to the first, on the first, on the day of tlie date
thereof, were present and did both hearc and seethe late Reuerend M^
Richard Mather to sigue, publish and dechirc, that the whole Con-
taines his last will and TestaDieut, that wlieu hec soe did hec was of
a sound disposing mind, to their best kiiowledge. This will was
th'us proued as aboue.

Euw : Ra^tson, Rccord^

Ri. Bellingham, Gou^
SamucU Symons, ) p^

John Fincheon,
and Record''.

ii

4964